Valve stem cap



Oct. 1, 194 w. MARTINO VALVE STEM CAP Filed Feb. 6. 1939 INVENTORATTQRNEYS atented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to inflating valves of the type employed inpneumatic tires, and has among its objects and advantages the provisionof an improved valve stem cap.

ii In the accompanying drawing:

Figurel is an elevational view of a valve stem and a sectional view of acap therefor in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 1 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the cap detached from the valve stem;and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the cap.

In the embodiment selected to illustrate my inw vention, I make use of avalve stem I 0 which may be conventional in all respects with theexception that I omit threads at the end l2. In lieu of threads, Iprovide a plurality of projections [4, which projections have sharpedges l6 and curved 2U faces it tangentially arranged with respect tothe circumference of the stem. When viewed according to Figure 2, theprojections I4 take the configuration of wedge-shaped teeth allprojecting in the same direction.

25 Cap Zil is formed of material such as rubber of semi-rigid propertieshaving a hexagonal configuration when viewed according to Figure 4. Thecap is provided with a bore 22 which tapers downwardly when viewedaccording to Figure 3.

W 113cm 22 at its end 24 fits tightly about the stem reach 26. Insidethe bore 22 I position a soft rubber cushion 28 arranged to engage theend it of the valve stem for effecting a dust-tight seal.

35 Figure 1 illustrates the cap 20 inposition, at which time the cushion28 is pressed firmly against the end 30 and the lower end of the capclosely embracing the run 26. In operation, the cap It is applied byexerting downward pressure m and rotating the cap in a clockwisedirection when viewing Figure 2 when pushing the cap home. The cap willrotate easily because of the curved faces l8 on the projections H, butthe projections will project partly into the material of the cap so asto effectively support the same against accidental displacement. withthe cushion l 24 effectively pressed between the top of the cap and theend 30.

Cap 20 may be removed by exerting a pull and rotating the cap in aclockwise direction. My invention permits the cap to be quickly andeasily 10 attached to or detached from the valve stem. It eliminates thetedious and time consuming manipulation peculiar to dust caps of thethreaded type. The tapered configuration of the bore 22 renders the capapplicable to modem valve stems of the modern type.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adaptthe same for use under various conditions of service.

I claim:

1. The combination of a valve stem having a projection extendinglaterally of its outer face adjacent one end ofthe stem, said projectionhaving a sharp edge and a face tangentially arranged with respect tosaid outer face of the stem, and a cap of resilient material adapted tobe pressed onto said one end of the valve stem, with said projectionextending into the material of the cap.

2. The combination of a valve stem having a 39 plurality of projectionsextending laterally from its outer face adjacent one end of the stem,said projections having sharp edges and faces tangentialiv arranged withrespect to said outer face of the stem, 9. cap of resilient materialhaving an opening for insertably receiving said one end of the valvestem, the opening in said cap being tapered to sealingly embrace thestem beyond said projections.

WILLIAM MARTINO. 40

